Omaha daily bee., 1887-05-31
BUCCANEERS AT NAPLES.
An Interesting story OF tho Early
Days of EIOrido

the purposes OF navigation, and before
the modern rage of scientific exploration
and survey had led men to penetrate to
the uppormoSt ends of the earth the
greater part of Florida was unknown
land.
The everglades were untrodden, save
by unfrequcnt bands of wandering Semi
mole Indians, and even their tresspasses
i'll that wilderness was held in check by
the reptiles which swarm in the ooly
Swamps.
There was no inducemcnt- nothing to
pay-should the patient mariner dream
of threading the intricate navigation of
coasts, deeply and variously indented as
they are, studded with thousands of is
lands home of the pelican and cranes,
the osprey, the eagle and tho screaming
sea gull. Each river mouth, too, with
sand and soil washed from the land,
abOunds in treacherous shoals.
Thus coasts and interiors alike were
admirably adapted for and did become
the haunt and refuge of the lawless.-thc
savages, the smuggler and the piratc--all
of whom frequcnted these parts unmo-
Tested, carrying on their depredations Jar
and wide.
On the east coast of America and on
the Spanish main, we read that Captain
Kidd was pirate king, but here on the
west coast of Florida, which now we
have good reason to expect will soon be-
come the garden spot of the world, and
where we now see fair and prosperous
cities spring INTO being; here. say, was
the headquarters of Il pirate chief, who,
Judging by the following narration, sur
passed IN daring and savage cruelty all
that have ever heard ascribed to
Captain Kidd. My informant was an
ancient negro named Antonio Pcpino
who died in Tallahassee at the age of III
shortly after the late war. His own his
tory and recollections would fill a good
sized volume He was born in the island
of Jamaica. and at the age of sixteen
was valet to n British officer, who was
then stationed there. On the breaking
out of the war of independence, Antonio
accompanied his master to this continent,
taking part IN numerous engagements,
among others that of Bunkcr's Hill. AT
the close of the war he driftcd to the
south, finally taking up his abode at st,
Augustine.
When there he entered the service of
the Spanish governor of the fort, who so
far trusted him as to employ him in car
ryng dispatches between there and the
Fort of st. Marks, service OF considera-
BILE responsibility and attended with con
siderable danger at that unsettled
period
We talk of the severity of Florida win
ters now -a-days, old Antonio could tell
of II snow storm, the severest he ever ex-
perienced, which, in 1902, overlook him
on one occasion, between st. Augustine
and st. Marks. But to return to our
tale.
He described travelling by land and by
sea as dangerous in the extreme. On his
frequent journeys generally made on
horseback he had to beware of hostile
Indians, and also the buccaneers, who
did not coniine their operations to the
ocean only, but it was well known that
they had stations some distance from the
coast, so well fortified by nature and art
as to be well nigh impenatrable.
According to Antonio's tale, the motor
ious pirate chef alluded to above had
such stronghold on the shores of Cor
don's bay, only accessible through a Sc.
cret passage or canal cut by the pirates
through the outside peninsula. Curlously
enough, while surveying there a few
weeks ago, we came upon this canal,
which leads through the side of the town
of Naples to 4 deep natural basin beyond.
The basin beyond, sheltered and deep,
gave secure anchorage to the pirate
fleet, while the fort ashore could be gar
risoned by the pirate crews. They found
it good policy to ally themselves with
the Seminolcs, then enraged at the occu-
pancy of the Spaniards, and such an alli-
ance proved most formidable, as the
unfortunate governor at st. Augustine
found to his cost
In spite of the danger attendant upon
the voyage between Cuba and the
continent he kept up constant cOmmuni-
cations with the port of Havana, and
having hitherto always made the journey
with safety, he was induced, at the earn
est solicitude of his young son and
daughter, who Mt the time were nearly
grown up, to let them start for the port
of Hayana.
Never was a decision attended with
| more fatal consequences. The pirate
the children, and after short, sharp
struggle, the vessel were overpowered
and the children taken prisoners.
Arrived at their stronghold on the bay,
the pirates deliberated as to the best way
of turning the important CAPTURE to ac-
count. Summoning their Seminole allies
| to the council, they at last decided on the
| bold stroke Of marching on Fort Angus
tine. and calling on the governor to sur
render In the event of his refusing,
| they would threaten to put his children
| to death.
Little did they know the stern stuff OF
| which that old soldier was made. In
| front of the fortress walls, according to
their plans, ,thcytrst produced the girl and
| threatened to destroy her IL their demands
were not complied with. The staunch
old governor replied that he would "hold
| the fort" Baflied for the time they
| again came forward, this time with the
son, who, they believed was his fathers
| favorite child; still the governor refused
| They then had to resort to torture.
| In full view from the ranparts the mis-
| crcants led out their captive, and tightly
binding round his head the knotted cord
through which was travcrsely thrust the
barrel of pistol, they deliberately pro
ceeded to thrust this round as lever, the
cord cutting through the skin into the
| very skull. The screams of the victim
were heard within the fort as he implored
| his father to yield.
| But no, the governor would not treat
with them at all. Sorely tried as he must
have been he doubtless knew that no de
pendcnce could be placed on any treaty
made with such trcacherous and cruel
enemies. Had he yielded, the probable
ity is that his submission would simply
mean the torture and massacre of his
| whole command.
| Enraged at his persistent refusal, the
ruilianS so increased the pressure of tht
ligaturc that the boy fell lifcless in tn,
| hands of his tormentors. 1t was after